As a way to highlight the incredible work of all the doctors working at or with Martlets, we are marking International Doctors’ Day today (October 7), to sing their praises and thank all of our doctors for their hard work.
Senior Staff Nurse of Martlets’ Hospice at Home team, Debbi Cook, shares her thoughts on this powerful partnership.
“I’m sure most of us know the well-seasoned quote from Edward Livingston Trudeau about the role of a doctor: ‘To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always.’
“However working in palliative care, these words seem too generalised, and as I reflected on the work of our doctors in the team, I acknowledge that as an organisation we are so blessed in having the medical professionals that we do.

“Our doctors provide us with a level of professional support and back up that is second to none.
“Their strong work ethic, problem-solving skills, competence, experience and availability together with their expert ability to listen, understand and provide an objective view in the most complex of scenarios is of such value — particularly within a diverse team of professionals across the clinical spectrum.
“The mutual respect for fellow professionals encourages development, collaboration, integrity, courage and a continued commitment to always seek the highest standards of care for our patients and their loved ones.
“All our doctors are skilled communicators, whether it be with patients, as their diagnoses, treatment and forward planning is discussed, or other members of the team.
“They have an honest and empathetic approach, with emphasis on detail and understanding the patient’s own story, and are leaders, educators and role models of ethical standards, in a context which often raises the most challenging moral questions.
“This International Doctor’s day specifically, I want to acknowledge the personal sacrifice and dedication that is consistently shown by our medical team, also the compassion shown not only to patients and their families, but to us as colleagues – the care for us as individuals, the times we are able to bring a smile in the most difficult of circumstances, and the ‘thinking outside the box’ when a traditional approach is too limiting and creativity, in order to individualise care, is called for.
“I hope all our doctors are able to take a breath today, to acknowledge their own personal journey, motivations and achievement, and to have a real sense of our honour, respect and appreciation of their professionalism and humanity.
As world-famous author Maya Angelou said: ‘People will forget what you said, and what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel.’
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Published 07/10/2024